Fruit-coring machine.



A. J. BURNS.

FRUIT GORING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1320.28, 1905.

Patented Oct. 18,1910

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ALBERT J. BURNS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOFREDERICK D. H. COBB AND ONE-HALF T0 COBB PRESERVING COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK, BOTH OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-CORING MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERTYJ. BURNS, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-CoringMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fruit coring machines, and consists in theconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, as they aredefined in the succeeding claims. The object of the invention is toproduce means for coring angular fruit sections with great rapidity.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying theinvention having parts removed in order to exhibit the construction;Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 3 is a section on theline 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 41 is a partial enlarged section on the line 1"1of Fig. 2; Fig; 5 is an edge view of one of the coring knives; and Fig.6 is a side View of the same coring knife.

A pair of pedestals or supports 1 have arms 2 for supporting a table 3,which terminate in bearings 4 for a pair of guide wheels 5, 5, carryinga carrier or belt 6. The pedestals 1 also carry a shaft 7 supporting adrum 8, around which said carrier or belt 6 passes. The pedestal 1 hasarms 9 for a presser wheel 10 which will be described below.

The edges of the carrier or belt 6 run on the guide wheels 5 and uponthe upper surface of the table 3. The belt has a series of open-sidedangular holders or pockets 11, which may each consist in a piece of bentsheet metal whose flared edges are fastened to the belt by rivets 12, sothat the apex of each holder or pocket is toward the interior of thebelt or carrier. In the center of the apeX of each pocket is a coreopening 13. The side edges of the sheet metal incline toward each otherto the apex, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 3, and 1. The table hasconverging faces shown in Fig. 3 that close the ends of the pocket 11. Aseries of the pockets 11 are carried by the belt 6, and in the course ofthe operation of the machine pass between the two guide Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed December 28, 1905.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

Serial No. 293,562.

pulleys 5 and through a slot in the center of the table 3, as shown inFig. 3. The drum 8 has a series of apertures in its periphery, eachadapted to receive and fit a pocket 11, and extending inwardly from theside edges of each aperture are pairs of plates 14 slightly inclinedtoward each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, into which the pockets 11fit with reasonable snugness so that the ends of the pockets 11 areclosed by said plates 14. The shaft 7 carries a driving pulley 15 bywhich the drum 8 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow inFig. 2.

Means are provided for pressing the fruit sections into the pockets 11while the coring knives are acting upon them. In the present embodimentof this invention the said pressure means is a presser wheel 10 havingupon its periphery a series of presser plates 16 adapted to registerwith the successive pockets 11 as the same pass under the said wheel,and each curved to fit the outer surface of a fruit section and to tendto center any misplaced fruit section in its pocket 11. The wheel 10rotates upon a shaft 17, and means are provided for maintaining anelastic pressure toward the drum 8. Suitable means for this purpose arethe bearing block 18 in ways in the arm 9 and carrying the shaft 17, andthe spring 19 pressing upon the block 18 and against a portion of thearm 9. This arrangement is used on each end of the shaft- 17. Thepresser wheel 10 is rotated by running on the belt 6 between the pockets11.

Inside the drum 8, and parallel to the shaft 7, is a shaft 20 ournaledin the arm 9 and carrying a pinion 21 meshing with a gear 22 on theshaft 7. The gear and the pinion constitute means for rotating the shaft20 at high speed from the driving pulley 15 and in the oppositedirection from the drum 8. The shaft 20 carries a rotary coring knife ofsuitable form, which registers with the core openings 13 in the pockets11 as they pass the knife. The coring knife has a body 23 fixed upon theshaft 20, and having a series of arms 24 (four as shown) extendingradially from the hub part 23. On each arm 24 is a U-shaped knife 25,having the curved. bottom of the outside the ends of the arms 24, andthe parallel portions of the U are fastened to the sides of said arms2e.

It is obvious that the drum 8 is only a rotary support for the series ofpockets or fruit holders. The rotating series of holders, therefore,cooperates with the operating knife to core the fruit sections, becausethe core portion of each fruit section is exposed to the action ofthecoring knife.

It will be noted that the shaft 20 of the coring knife is so placed thatthe coring action begins before the presser 16 has its maximum actionand that when the knife begins to act the presser presses the applequarter on its forward edge and into the bottom of the pocket, whereforethe quarter cannot tilt unde the action of the knife and is held firmly.

The present device is particularly adapted to coring quartered apples.The apples are preferably first peeled and quartered. Then the quartersare placed singly by hand in the pockets 11 as the same rise to thesurface of the table 3, and as they move along between the convergingfaces of the table the quarters tend to seat themselves in the pocketsby the friction of said faces, so that the core portion registers withthe core openings 13. The quarters or fruit sections are thus carriedalong until they reach a position in which a presser plate 16 meets thefruit section in the pocket that is approaching the cutting position,whereupon the presser wheel 10 revolving with the drum 8 presses thefruit section or apple quarter firmly into the pocket, while the coringknife, revolving at high speed, cuts out the core section while thefruit section is passing the knife. As the motion of the fruit sectioncontinues, it falls from its pocket 11 into a receptacle placed inconvenient position. In order to remove the cuttings produced by thecoring knife, a suitable chute 2T adjacent to said knife is led from theinterior of the drum 8 to the exterior thereof.

The ends of a fruit section, when set in a pocket 11, rub on theconverging open sides as they are carried along, and therefore, if theyhave been inaccurately placed in the pocket, are gently pushed towardthe center thereof. The concave presser plates or cups 16 complete andperfect the centering operation, although they will perform it bythemselves.

The continuous belt 6 having only the openings formed by the pockets 11prevents fruit sections from falling through or into the machine, andthus saves much fruit as compared with a machine in which the pocketsare connected by chains, wire ropes, or the like, and large spaces existbetween the pockets.

hat I claim is 1. In a machine for coring fruit sections,

a support, a table on said support having converging surfaces, a seriesof connected holders for fruit sections movable between said convergingsurfaces, each holder having open converging sides running against theconverging surfaces of the table and a core section opening at itsbottom, a cutter adapted to cut the core sections from the fruitsections as the holders successively pass the cutter, means movingsubstantially in the same direction and at the same speed as the holdersfor pressing the fruit sections into the holders during the cuttingaction, and means for moving said holders in succession.

2. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a support, a table on saidsupport having converging surfaces, a belt, a series of holders forfruit sect-ions attached to said belt and running between saidconverging surfaces, each holder having open converging sides runningagainst the converging surfaces of the table and a core section openingat its bottom, a cutter adapted to cut the core sections from the fruitsections as the holders successively pass the cutter, means movingsubstantially in the same direction and at the same speed as the holdersfor pressing the fruit sections into 'the holders during the cuttingaction, and means for moving said holders in succession.

3. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in itsperiphery, a belt having pockets adapted to hold fruit sections thereinwith their edges and core sections toward the interior of the belt andadapted to project through the openings in the drum, means'for pressinga fruit section into each pocket during the cutting action by pressureupon its outersurface, a cutter adapted to out the core section fromeach fruit section as the holders successively pass the cutter, andmeans for actuating the drum and belt.

4. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in itsperiphery and an inwardly converging pair of plates adjacent to eachopening, a belt provided with pockets for fruit sections havingconverging open sides adapted to register with said plates and havingcore section openings adapted to project through said openings in thedrum, means for pressing a fruit section into each holder during thecutting action, a cutter adapted to cut the core section from each fruitsection as the pocket passes the cutter, and means for actuating thedrum and belt.

5. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in itsperiphery, a belt having pockets adapted to hold fruit sections thereinwith their edges and core sections toward the interior of the belt andadapted to project through the openings in the drum, a series ofpressers for pressing a fruit section into each pocket during thecutting action by pressure upon its outer surface, a cutter adapted tocut the core section from each fruit section as the holders successivelypass the'cutter and means for acwith pockets for fruit sections havingconverging open sides adapted to register with said plates and havingcore section openings adapted to project through said openings in thedrum, a series of pressers for pressing a fruit section into each holderduring the cutting action, a cutter adapted to cut the core section fromeach fruit section as the pocket passes the cutter, and means foractuating the drum and belt.

7. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in itsperiphery, a belt having pockets adapted to hold fruit sections thereinwith their edges and core sections toward the interior of the belt andadapted to project through the openings in the drum, a series of concavepressers for pressing'a fruit section into each pocket during thecutting action by pressure upon its outer surface and for centering ittherein, a cutter adapted to cut the core section from each fruitsection as the holders successively pass the cutter, and means foractuating the drum and belt.

8. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in itsperiphery and an inwardly converging pair of plates adj acent to eachopening, a belt having pockets for fruit sections having convergingopensides adapted to register with said plates and having core sectionopenings adapted to project through said openings in the drum, a seriesof concave pressers for pressing a fruit section into each holder duringthe cutting action and for centering it therein, a cutter adapted to cutthe core section from each fruit section as the pocket passes thecutter, and means for actuating said drum and belt.

9. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in itsperiphery and inwardly projecting plates, a moving belt havingopen-sided pockets adapted to register with said plates and to holdfruit sections therein with their edges. and core sections toward theinterior of the belt and adapted to project through the openings in thedrum, a rotating coring knife within the belt adapted to cut the coresections from said fruit sections as the pockets successively pass thecoring knife, and means for actuating said drum, belt and knife.

10. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a movable carrier having aseries of pockets for fruit sections, each pocket adapted to hold afruit section and to expose the core section thereof, a cutter adaptedto cut the exposed core sections from the fruit sections as the holderssuccessively pass the cutter, and a series of pressers movable firsttoward and then in substantially the same direction and at the samespeed as the carrier and each adapted to center a fuit section in apocket and to hold it therein during the cutting action.

11. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a movable carrier having aseries of pockets for fruit sections, each pocket adapted to hold afruit section and toexpose the core section thereof, a cutter adapted tocut the exposed core sections from the fruit sections.

as the holders successively pass the cutter, and a series of pressersrotatable on an axis to move toward and from the carrier and with thecarrier and each adapted to center a fruit section in its pocket and tohold it therein during the cutting action.

12. In a machine for coring fruit sections, the combination of a belthaving open-sided pockets adapted to hold fruit sections therein withtheir edges and core sections inward,

a drum having openings in its periphery and inwardlyproject-ingconverglng plates adjacent to said openings and adapted toreceive said open-sided pockets and to fit against the open sidesthereof, a cutter adapted to cut out the core sections as the holderssuccessively pass the cutter, a presser wheel movable toward and fromthe belt and provided with a series of presser plates thereon adapted topress each fruit section into its pocket while the coring knife isoperating upon it, and means for actuating said belt and drum.

13. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a belt having a series ofopen-sided pockets for fruit sections, each adapted to hold a fruitsection with its edge and core section inward, a table having convergingsurfaces between which thepockets run, guide pulleys at one end of saidtable for said belt, a drum at the other end of said table for saidbelt, the said'drum having openings in its periphery for said pocketsand inwardlv projecting plates adapted to close the open sides of saidpockets when the latter arein said openings, means for holding the fruitsections in the pockets during the cutting action, a cutter adapted tocut out the core sections as the pockets successively pass the knife,and means for actuating said belt and .drum.

14. In a machine for coring fruit sections, the combination of a belthaving open-sided pockets adapted to hold fruit sections therein withtheir edges and core sections inward, a drum having openings in itsperiphery and a pair of inwardly converging plates adjacent to eachopening and adapted to receive said open-sided pockets, a cutter adaptedto cut out the core sections as the holders successively pass the knife,a presser wheel running with said belt and having a series of presserplates thereon each adapted to centerand to press a fruit section intoits pocket while the cutter is operating upon it, and means foractuating said belt and drum.

15. In a machine for coring fruitsections, the combination of a belthaving pockets with open, converging sides, adapted to hold fruitsections therein with their edges and core sections inward, a drumhaving openings in its periphery and a pair of inwardly convergingplates adjacent to each opening and adapted to receive and to fitagainst the sides of said open-sided pockets, a cutter adapted to cutout the core sections as the holders successively pass the knife, and aresser wheel running with said belt and aving a series of concavepresser plates thereon each adapted to center and to press a fruitsection into its pocket while the cutter is operating upon it, and meansfor actuating said belt and drum.

16. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a movable series of holdersfor fruit sections, each constructed to hold a fruit sectiontransversely to the path of movement and to expose its core, means forholding a fruit section in each holder during the cutting action, and acore cutter moving in the oppositedirect-ion from the holders forremoving the core sections from the fruit sections as the holders passthe cutter.

17. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a movable series of holdersfor fruit sections, each provided with two angularly-arranged transversesurfaces adapted to engage the cleft surfaces of a fruit section and tohold the fruit section transversely to the path of movement of theholders and to expose its core, means frictionally engaging the ends ofthe fruit sections, said means and the holders having relative movementso as to move and seat the section in each holder, and a core cutter forremoving the core from the fruit sections.

1.8 In a machine for coring fruit sections, a holder for a fruitsec-tionprovided with two angularly-arranged surfaces adapted to engage thecleft surfaces of a fruit section and to hold the fruit section, meansarranged to engage the ends of the fruit section therein, said means andthe holder having relative movement so as to move the sectionf-rictionally andca-use it to seat in the holder, and a core cuttermovable relatively with respect to the fruit holder for removing thecore from the fruit section.

19. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a belt having a series ofopenings therein, each containing a holder for fruit sectionsconstructed to hold a fruit section transversely to the path of movementand to expose its core, said belt forming a continuous surface betweenthe holders, means for holding a fruit section in each holder during thecutting action, and a core cutter for removing the core sections fromthe fruit sections as the holders pass the cutter.

20. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a belt having a series ofopenings therein, each containing a holder for fruit sectionsconstructed to hold a fruit section transconstructed to hold a fruitsection transversely to the path of movement and to expose its core,said belt forming a continuous surface between the holders, a wheelrevoluble with the belt and having a series of pressers for holding thefruit sections in the holders during the cutting action, and a corecutter for removing the core sect-ions from the fruit sections as theholders pass the cutter.

22. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a belt having a series ofopenings therein, each containing a holder for fruit sectionsconstructed to hold a fruit section transversely to the path of movementand to expose its core, said belt forming a continuous surface betweenthe holders, a wheel revoluble with the belt and having a series ofconcave pressers for centering the fruit sections in the holders and forholding them therein during the cutting action, and a core cutter forremoving the core sections from the fruit sections as the holders passthe cutter.

ALBERT J. BURNS.

Witnesses D. GURNEE, L. THON.

